Wave motor



Dec. 8, 1931. w, RX MQBLEY 1,835,572

WAVE MOTOR Filed Jan. 26, 1929 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATESWILLIAM R. MOBLEY, OF MIAMI, FLORIDA WAVE Moron Application led January26,1929. Serial No. 335,236.

T his invention relates to wave motors and it is an object of theinvention to provide a device of this character wherein the force of thewaves is converted into power for practical purposes.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a motor of this kindcomprising a member possessing a certain degree of buoyancy which risesand falls with the waves,

together with means operated by said member during its movements forcreating energy for practical purposes.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a motor of this kindcomprising a member possessing a certain degree of buoyancy to maintainthe same substantially in submergence at the water line portion,together with means for causing said member to rise and fall with thewaves in substantially a fixed path of travel and also means forcreating for practical purposes a source of energy resulting from therise and fall of said buoyant member.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved wavemotor whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully setforth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure l is a view partly in side elevation and partlyin section illustrating a wave mo tor constructed in accordance with anembodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the structure as illustrated in Figurel with the buoyant body omitted, the compressors and the parts directlyassociated therewith being disclosed in somewhat a diagrammatic manner.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, S denotes a tubular standardof requi- 50 site dimensions and which is adapted to have its lowerportion properly set within the bed of the body of water with which themotor is employed.. The wall of this standard S for a desired distancetherealong is provided with a slot l.

Freely disposed through this slot 1 is an arm or extension 2 carried bythe lower end portion of an elongated member 3 extending upwardly withinthe standard S and terminating at all times at a desired distancethereabove. This extension or arm 2 is laterally disposed with respectto the member 3 and the portion of the arm or extension 2 exteriorly ofthe standard S is securedto the upper central portion of a buoyant bodyB.

This body B is preferably spherical in form and hollow and the interiorof the body B, preferably at a point above its horizontal center, isintersected by a Vpartition 4 whereby the interior of the body B isdivided into two chambers 5 and 6. The body B at diametrically opposedpoints and also the central portion of the partition l are provided withthe aligning openings 7 of such diameters whereby the body B may beengaged upon the standard S in a manner to permit said body B to havefree up and down movement with respect to the standard S when the motoris in assembled and applied position. These openings 7 are continuedthrough the sleeves 8 bridging the spaces between the partition 4 andthe upper and lower central portions of 'the body B, or those portionsprovided with the openings 7.

The lower chamber 5 in the present embodiment of my inventionconstitutes a dead air chamber although it is to be understood that ifpreferred said chamber may be lled with any suitable gas or the like ofa specific gravity less than that of the water. The upper chamber 6 isadapted to have placed therein a suitable ballast medium 9 which may beof any desired character, preferably water, so that the buoyancy of themember B can be so controlled or regulated as to'cause the same 9.

to be substantially in submergence at all times at the water line yetreadily moving up and down under the influence of the wave action. Theupper portion of the body B is provided in its wall with a filleropening l0 in communication with the chamber 6, said opening bein@normally closed by a plug 11 or its equivalent.

Mounted upon the upper end portion of the standard S is a. platform P ofdesired dimensions and suitably placed upon the platform I3 are aircompressors C of any desired number and which are in desired drivenconnection with a shaft 12 mounted upon the platform l). Suitably fixedupon this shaft 12 is a pinion 14 which is constantly in mesh with therack 15 extending a desired distance along the upper portion of themember 3 hereinbefore referred to so that as this member 3 is verticallyreciprocated upon rise and fall of the body B With the Waves, the shaft12 Will be rotated to effect the desired operation of the compressor C,such operation occurring during both strokes of the member 3. Anysuitable means, as at 16, may be provided to maintain the rack 15constantly in mesh With the pinion 14:.

The compressors employed in connection With my improved motor are of atype including reciprocating pistons and it will, therefore, be obviousthat each compressor Will be effective irrespective of the direction inWhich the shaft 12 may rotate.

It is also to be noted that in connection with this motor thebodyB alsoserves to maintain at all times the requisite balance and which is ofparticular importance at the period the shaft 12 changes its directionof rotation as by so acting this body B substantially eliminates anyloss in the Working efhciency of the compressor C.

It is to be understood that the standard S is of such length as toassure the platform 1: being positioned at all times above the surfaceof the Water.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a Wavemotor constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly Welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that myinvention is susceptible of some change and modification Withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason Ido not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precisearrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carryingout my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In a Wave motor mechanism, a buoyant body for the actuationthereof, consisting of a casing adapted to exclude Huid and having ahorizontal partition separating the casing into two compartments, theupper compartment being substantially filled With a ballast above thesurface of the Water, said ballast being of substantially the sameWeight as the Water displaced by one half of the cubic capacity of saidcasing.

2. In a Wave motor mechanism, a buoyant body for the actuation thereof,consisting of a casing adapted to exclude Huid and having a horizontalpartition dividing it into tivo compartments, the upper compartmentbeing smaller than the lower compartment and adapted to receive aballast which is substantially equal in Weight to that of the Waterdisplaced by the casingwhen floated, at Which point said partition issubstantially in the plane of the surface of the Water.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

lWILLIAM R. MOBLEY.

